Sunday in the Country: Food drive names raffle winners

MILLERTON — Ten supporters of the Sunday in the Country Food Drive (SITCFD) got lucky as they helped raise some of the vitally needed funds to help provide holiday meals for some 600 area residents in need.

With requests for the food baskets still coming in and COVID-19 restrictions shutting down the decades-old organization’s traditional fundraising events, the raffle loomed large as the community stepped up to provide prizes. 

Bill Anstett, who co-heads the food drive with his wife, Colleen McGhee, announced the results of the Sunday night drawings on Nov. 1. Rob Cooper won a handmade star quilt created by Anstett’s sister-in-law, Kristal McGhee, valued between $300 and $400. Bill McGhee will be enjoying a $200 Thanksgiving turkey with the traditional sides from McEnroe Organic Farm. Gift cards valued at $200 each went to winner Joe McEnroe from Taylor Oil in Millerton, to Doris Carberry from the Millerton restaurant and bar, 52 Main and to Theresa Eisermann from The Black Rabbit bar and grill in Lakeville, Conn. The $100 gift cards were won by Fred Stevenson courtesy of Daisey Hill Farm in Millerton, to Cheryl Ellis given by North East Muffler, to Willie Hallihan from Herrington’s Hardware in Millerton and Lakeville and to Sarah and Tom Cahill from Silamar Farm in Millerton. 

Anstett estimated the raffle brought in approximately $6,000 of the $40,000 he expects will be needed to provide the traditional holiday meals to those who would otherwise go without. He said that with the pandemic, “everything” has changed and so nothing has been finalized, from the number of baskets needed to the total costs, and noted that in addition to the holiday baskets, the organization fulfills a variety of special requests throughout the year.

Without the other fundraisers, Anstett said SITCFD is relying on the generosity of its usual donors. He doesn’t know for certain if the virus will impact donations, because “People give different amounts every year. I’m not saying it’s any less, really, but it’s certainly slower.”

In addition to changes in fundraising, the actual process involved in distribution will be modified. 

“Unfortunately, we can’t really have the volunteer help we usually do,” Anstett said. “We’re trying to keep the numbers limited due to COVID. Typically we have some younger people to help us, but we just can’t do it this year. We’re going to be on sort of a skeleton crew.”

Even with the smaller group, Anstett is confident they will manage to pack and distribute the necessary items to the Tri-state food pantries that request the meals. 

“The core group that I have that I’m going to use has been with the group for a long time, so they know the ins and outs, which is good, and it goes along pretty smoothly,” he said. “It’ll be a little more work this year, but we’ve done it so many years in a row that we’ve got it down pretty good.”  

He is hopeful next year things will change and allow a return to normalcy. Meanwhile, they’re already planning another raffle after the first of the year to raise more money. 

To donate to the nonprofit, go to www.sundayinthecountry.org or send a check to Sunday in the Country Food Drive, P.O. Box 789, Millerton, NY 12546. For details, call Anstett at 845-206-5938.